Thawing device for hydrants.



A. H. KAMPFF. THAWING DEVICE FOR HYDRANTS.

Jam. 15, 1918.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,191]- 11. 53,692 Pat nted ALBERT R. KAMIFF, OFNEW YORK. N. Y.

THAWINGDEVICE FOR nvnannrs.

renames.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 191%.

Application filed J'u1y 21, 1917. SerialNo. 181,361.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT R. KAMPFF, a citizen of the United "States,and a resident of New York city, in the county and State of NewYork,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ThawingDevices for Hydrants, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device of novel construction by means ofwhich a hydrant or fire plug may be readily thawed out when frozen. Theinvention consists in the vari ous features of novelty more fullypointed out in the specification and appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a. longitudinal section partly in side view of a hydrantprovided with a thawing device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, longitudinal section on line 22 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a cross section on line 3-3 Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4, a plan of the thawing device detached, showing the pipes insection.

The stand pipe 1 of the hydrant, extends as usual several feet beneaththe surface level 2, and is connected at its lower end by an elbow 3with the service pipe 4 controlled by a valve 5, the valve spindle 6passing axially through the stand pipe. These parts are of theconventional or suitable construction and do not form part of myinvention. In case the valve leaks, water will accumulate in the lowerportion of the stand pipe, and under a sufiiciently low temperature thiswater will turn into ice, which will bind the valve spindle and thusrender the hydrant inoperative. To quickly thaw out this ice is theobject of the present invention.

Within the lower end of the stand pipe, and within its freezing zone,directly above valve 5, there is fitted an annular vessel 7, which issplit or divided longitudinally and is shown to be furnished with a pairof up right end walls 8, which are spaced a slight distance from eachother. Vessel 7 is formed of an arched out-er wall 9 (that closely hugsthe inner face of the stand pipe) an inner concentric wall 10 (withinwhich spindle 6 is centered), a curved bottom 11, and a divided annulartop plate or head 12. In proximity to each of its end walls 8, vessel 7is provided at its upper end with inwardly extending pockets 13, thatcommunicate respectively with the lower ends of a pair of pipes 14:which are tapped into head 12. and project upwardly through the standpipe, along spindle 6. Either-one ofthese pipes 14 forms ,an inletwforsteam or hot water, which constitutes the thawing medium, while theother pipe forms the outi let fOlSitlCl medium.

At their upper ends pipes 1 1 are furnished with diverging branches 15,that open through diametri cally opposed points of stand pipe 1. Thesebranches carry washers 16 and caps 17, which caps are removed when oneof said branches is coupled to the engine or other source of supply ofthe thawing medium, while the other-branch constitutes an outlet forsaid medium.

.111; its rounded bottom, vessel 7 communicates by means of an inwardlyextending branch 18, with a drainor suction pipe 19, which is partiallyencompassed by vessel 7, and extends a distance up within stand pipe 1.At its upper end, pipe 19 is connected to a branch 20, which opensoutwardly preferably through the back of the hydrant. This branch isshown to carry an inner lock nut 21, an outer washer 22, and a cap 23which is threaded on the protruding end of the branch.

In use, hot water or steam which constitutes the thawing medium andwhich is ad mitted through one of the pipes 14:, will flow into vessel7, so as to fill the same and after having passed completely around thevessel, will be discharged through the other pipe. In this way thethawing medium, while within the pipes 1a, and also while within thevessel 7, will heat up an extensive area of thawing surface by means ofwhich the stand pipe together with the valve spindle may be quickly andeffectively thawed out. After the thawing out operation has beencompleted or at any time thereafter, the water may be readily removed bya pump coupled to the drain pipe 19.

My improved thawing device possesses numerous advantages: By means ofthe annular thawing vessel described, an extensive chamber will beprovided and any water remaining therein, will on freezing, not beliable to burst the same, as is the case with thawing coils. The vesselowing to its up right division must be entirely traversed by the heatingmedium, and forms, together with the inlet and outlet pipes, anextensive heat radiating surface. As the vessel is inclosed by the standpipe of the hydrant, it comes into direct contact with the ice, so as tooperate to the greatest advantage, in contradistinction to those deviceswhich are arranged exteriorly of the stand pipe. The rounded bottom moreeffectively withstands the extensive attack of the ice and provides alower channel by which the vessel maybe thoroughly drained. Finally, thedevice can be readily installed in hydrants of ordinary construction,subsequent to their setting up and without requiring extensivealterations.

I claim:

A hydrant having a stand pipe, a valve and a valve spindle, combinedwith a vertically divided annular vessel inclosed within the lower endof said stand pipe and encompassing said spindle, an inlet pipe, anoutlet pipe and a drain pipe located Within the stand pipe, said inletpipe, outlet pipe, and drain pipe communicating at their lower ends withsaid vessel, and adapted to open outwardly at their upper ends throughsaid stand pipe.

ALBERT R. KAMPFFJ Copies of this patent may be obtained for five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner 6! Patents, Washington, D. G.

